Colosseum History Colouring

The Colosseum stands in the archaeological heart of Rome, Italy. Its ancient name was the Flavian Amphitheatre because emperors of the Flavian dynasty ordered its construction in the first century CE. Emperor Vespasian began the project, and his son Titus inaugurated it in 80 CE. Later work continued under Domitian. The familiar name Colosseum probably came from a colossal statue that once stood nearby, not from the size of the building itself, although it truly is enormous. It is the largest amphitheatre in the world and once welcomed tens of thousands of spectators. The structure is an oval rather than a perfect circle. Repeated arches formed entrances, corridors and stairways that helped large crowds move through the building. Different styles of columns decorated the stacked exterior levels. In the arena, Romans watched public spectacles such as staged hunts and gladiatorial contests. These events could be dangerous and violent, so today we study them as part of ancient history rather than copy them. Beneath the arena was a network of passages, rooms, lifts and trapdoors called the hypogeum. The underground structures were first made partly from wood and were later rebuilt in masonry under Domitian. Earthquakes, stone reuse and centuries of changing purposes damaged the outer wall, creating the famous broken profile seen today. Start colouring the travertine exterior with cream, pale gold, light tan or soft grey. Keep the face of each arch light and place a darker grey, brown or muted violet just inside the openings to suggest depth. Use two or three related shades across the rows so the curved wall stays easy to follow. The broken upper edge can be slightly darker, showing the rough ancient stones. Colour the umbrella pines with deep green crowns and warm brown trunks, the paving stones beige and grey, and the sky pale blue. Try smooth curved strokes around the oval wall and careful vertical strokes between the arches. You may count the three main rows of openings as you work. Leave a white highlight on sun-facing stones and avoid filling every arch completely dark. This will keep the grand tiers clear and help the picture show both the Colosseum's clever design and its long, changing history.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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Grown-up note: Please supervise printing and choose age-appropriate art materials.